Your Questions About FDN Functional Lab Training, Answered
You've got questions. We've got answers. Real ones, not the run-around.
Whether you're a health coach hitting a wall with generic advice, a nurse ready to leave the bedside for something more fulfilling, or a practitioner tired of playing the guessing game with clients, you're probably wondering if functional lab training is right for you.
Let's dive into the questions we hear most often. And if you don't see your question here, book a discovery call or watch our free course tour for a behind-the-scenes peek at what you'll learn.
Getting Started: The Basics
What exactly is a Functional Lab Practitioner?
Think of it as becoming a health detective rather than a symptom-chaser.
When you complete functional lab training with FDN, you become a practitioner who can order and interpret functional lab tests that will uncover the underlying causes and conditions causing your clients health problems. Instead of guessing what might help your clients based on their symptoms, you use their unique data to identify what functions need to be improved to restore health.
You're not diagnosing disease (that's what MDs do). Instead, you're asking: "Out of 100% function, where has it been lost and by how much?" Then you create personalized, all-natural protocols to restore that function.
The labs you'll master look at hormones, immune response, digestion, detoxification, energy production, and nervous system balance. And here's the game-changer: you can do this without a medical license or the need to prescribe medication because all of our protocols are natural and drug free.
How is functional lab training different from a health coaching certification?
The short answer? Data versus guesswork.
Most health coaching certifications teach you general wellness principles: eat less fat, exercise more, try this elimination diet, manage your stress. These are valuable concepts, but they're generic. Wouldn’t you like to know for certain if your client needs to eat more protein, cut carbs, take immune-boosting supplements, etc.
As a health coach, you're either giving generalized advice to everyone or you're helping ensure compliance on protocols written by a doctor, functional medicine practitioner or someone else. You're essentially hoping their recommendations work.
With functional lab training, you stop hoping and start knowing.
You learn to use hard data from labs and customized intake forms to tailor those same health-building principles (diet, rest, exercise, stress reduction, and supplementation) for each individual based on what their body is actually telling you. You become the practitioner who can write comprehensive, personalized protocols, not just support someone else's and get better results.
Do I need a medical degree or license to do functional lab training?
Absolutely Not! Here's why:
There's a critical difference between diagnostic labs and functional labs. Diagnostic labs identify what disease someone has, which connects to insurance, standard of care protocols, and typically leads to drugs or surgery. Even if we ran the same labs, our interpretation focuses more on “whose lab report is this?” and “how did they end up with these numbers?”
Functional labs ask a completely different question. Instead of "What disease do you have?" they ask "Where has function been lost, and by how much?"
Because you're not diagnosing or treating disease, you don't need a medical degree or license. You're identifying loss of function and creating all-natural protocols to restore it. This operates under a different scope of practice entirely.
That said, your functional lab training needs to be comprehensive and teach you proper methodology, which is exactly what the FDN program provides.
Special Situations: Nurses, Nutritionists, and Other Professionals
Can nurses do functional lab training?
Yes, and why not!
Nurses absolutely can train to become functional lab practitioners and discover what a Perfect Complement™ it is to your existing nursing skills. The FDN certification is open to all nurses and allied practitioners.
To practice as an FDN, nurses simply add a new level of skill and understanding to their current care model. While nursing licensure may be bound by geographical and scope of practice limitations, practicing FDN is not. FDN practitioners operate anywhere (often virtually) and without violating anyone's scope of practice rules or regulations.
Many nurses come to FDN specifically because they're tired of the constraints of the conventional healthcare system and want more autonomy, better work-life balance, and the ability to truly help people get to root causes.
What about nutritionists? Can they add functional labs to their practice?
Of course!
Similar to nurses and other allied practitioners. Nutritionists can use the Medical Director Program (MDP) to provide functional lab testing for all their clients and use the data to improve their recommendations to get the results their clients are desperately searching for.
You already understand the power of food as medicine. Functional lab training gets your hands on the data you need to personalize your lifestyle recommendations with precision.
I'm already a health coach. How do I order functional labs?
When you go through the FDN Program you get full access to over 70 functional labs that you can add to your practice immediately. Easy online ordering gets test kits delivered directly to your clients door. The convenience and privacy of at-home testing has been proven to satisfy FDN clients and customers for over 25 years.
Once health coaches show clients actual lab data explaining why they feel terrible and exactly what will fix it, their client results and retention skyrockets and their practice fills through referrals.
About the FDN Program
What is an FDN Practitioner?
A health detective!
When you complete the FDN Course, you become a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDNP). On a deeper level, you're trained in investigating underlying causes and conditions, using evidence-based protocols to restore vitality.
You understand how to select the right functional tests and exactly what clues to look for when analyzing results. You don't diagnose or treat disease. You identify healing opportunities and eliminate contributors to Metabolic Chaos™, which positions you to support anyone in building better health.
What can I do with my FDN certification?
The most common path is launching or growing a private practice where you get paid to do what you love. But FDN graduates pursue many different paths:
- Build a private practice (in-person or virtual)
- Join an integrative clinic as a functional health practitioner
- Add functional labs to an existing practice (massage therapy, chiropractic, nutrition)
- Become a corporate wellness consultant
- Teach functional health workshops at local wellness centers
- Work remotely from anywhere in the world
- Specialize in a niche (autoimmune, hormones, gut health, etc.)
You can also use titles like...
"Functional Health Practitioner," "Health Consultant," "Functional Lab Practitioner," “Holistic Health Practitioner", or “Functional Health Nurse”, whatever resonates with your market.
Why FDN instead of other programs?
Simple: Our methodology teaches you how to get better results.
We have the longest history of training health professionals in functional lab interpretation. Over 15+ years with 5,000+ practitioners in 50+ countries. Our methodology is based on founder Reed Davis's decades of clinical experience helping thousands of clients.
But here's what really sets us apart:
- Systematic lab analysis training for data-driven decisions that work consistently
- Medical Director Program access to order 70+ labs without a medical license
- You test yourself first (included in tuition) so you gain firsthand experience
- 12 one-on-one mentorship sessions including personal lab reviews
- Proven methodology that works for any health condition
- Business training included so you know how to structure premium packages
- Graduate program available for ongoing clinical and business support
- Permanent course access including all updates as science advances
Other programs teach theory. FDN gives you a complete system that works in the real world.
The Labs and Learning
What labs will I learn to interpret?
With the FDN certification, you gain access to order and interpret over 70 functional labs. During the course, you'll master these core assessments:
The H.I.D.D.E.N. System
H
I
D
D
E
N
H - Hormones
Stress and hormone panel (cortisol, sex hormones, melatonin)
I - Immune
Mucosal Barrier Assessment (zonulin, histamine, DAO)
D - Digestion
GI-MAP comprehensive stool test
D - Detoxification
Metabolic Wellness Profile (urinary bile acids, oxidative stress markers)
E - Energy Production
Metabolic Typing Assessment
N - Nervous System
Autonomic nervous system balance testing
You'll also learn the MRT Food Sensitivity Test to identify hidden inflammatory triggers.
And once you graduate? You can order from our entire catalog of 70+ labs including DUTCH, mycotoxin panels, organic acids tests, and access to third-party distributors like Evexia.
Which labs will I learn to interpret?
After completing module 1, we ship you four functional test kits to run on yourself:
1
Stress and Hormone Profile (saliva)
2
Metabolic Wellness Profile
(dried urine)
3
Mucosal Barrier Assessment
(dried urine)
4
GI-MAP
(stool test)
5
Mediator Release Test (MRT)
(blood draw or blood finger prick test if outside of the US)
You'll also complete a Metabolic Typing Assessment online halfway through the program.
This "test yourself first" approach is revolutionary. You're not just learning theory. You're experiencing the methodology firsthand, optimizing your own health, and building the confidence that comes from real results.
Will insurance cover these functional labs?
No, and that's actually a good thing.
Insurance companies don't cover functional labs because they're not diagnostic. Insurance requires a diagnosis, which then dictates a standard of care that doctors must follow.
While paying out of pocket might seem like an inconvenience, it's actually liberating. You're not constrained by insurance limitations or treatment protocols. You can provide truly personalized, natural health-building programs.
And here's the reality: When clients see the transformative results they get from functional lab-based protocols (results they couldn't get anywhere else), they happily invest. Many FDN practitioners charge $4,000-$6,000+ for 90-day programs and have waiting lists.
Prerequisites and Requirements
Are there prerequisites to enroll?
Nope!
Our founder, Reed Davis, is committed to making this knowledge accessible to anyone. All courses are open to anyone looking to expand their knowledge and expertise, whether for personal health or career advancement.
You don't need a medical degree, health coaching certification, science background, or any specific credential. You just need willingness to learn and commitment to doing the work.
Do functional lab practitioners need a license?
No.
Functional lab practitioners operate under certification, not licensure. Licensure is geography-based (licensed to practice in one location), but functional lab practitioners typically run virtual practices seeing clients across the country or internationally.
Because you're not diagnosing or treating disease (you're identifying loss of function and creating natural protocols to restore it), licensure isn't required.
You operate under a completely different model than the disease-care system: the health-building model.
Will I be practicing medicine?
Absolutely not.
The FDN course does not teach you to practice medicine. You don't diagnose or treat disease. The health-building model is completely different from the disease-care model.
We teach you how to provide FDN services correctly and give you the intake forms you need to practice safely. Your role is to educate clients on how to improve their health using natural protocols based on functional lab data.
What titles can I use after graduation?
After completing the FDN Course, you can use:
- Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDNP)
- Functional Lab Practitioner
- Functional Health Practitioner
- Health Consultant
- Health Coach (if you prefer)
You're also eligible to join the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP) and use the title Holistic Health Practitioner (HHP) without even sitting for their exam.
Additionally, you can pursue board certification through organizations like AANWP and AANWC if you choose.
The Labs and Learning
How long does the program take?
You have a full year, but most students complete in 6-8 months.
The course is self-paced with modules that "drip" out as you progress. We've found that students with full-time jobs and families average about 9.5 months to complete. But because it's self-paced, you can go faster or slower based on your schedule.
Some dedicated students finish in as little as 4 months. Others take the full year. We're here to support you either way.
When can I start?
Today!
The course operates on open enrollment, which means you get access as soon as you register. You can access the student portal 24/7 and start learning immediately.
Is the training live or pre-recorded?
The training modules are all pre-recorded and available 24/7, so you can learn on your schedule.
But you also get extensive live support:
12 one-on-one mentorship sessions including two to review your personal functional test results and nine practice sessions with program mentors
Weekly live group support calls in our private community
Hot Topics deep dives with our Education Director
This combination of self-paced learning plus live mentorship is what sets FDN apart.
What conditions can FDN help with?
Honestly, all of them.
The FDN methodology teaches you to identify and correct underlying causes and conditions that lead to people's health complaints. This method works for any health issue because you're addressing root dysfunction, not just symptoms.
Whether someone comes to you with chronic fatigue, autoimmune conditions, digestive issues, hormonal imbalances, sleep problems, brain fog, weight issues, inflammation, or metabolic dysfunction, the H.I.D.D.E.N. assessment reveals where they've lost function, and the D.R.E.S.S. protocol restores it.
By combining strategic functional tests with thorough client intake, you create protocols that support every cell, tissue, organ, and system in the body simultaneously.
International and Practical Questions
Can I do this program if I live outside the US?
Yes, definitely!
We have successful FDN Practitioners in over 50 countries as of 2025, including England, Scotland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and throughout Europe.
We've worked hard with our lab partners to make functional testing available worldwide. For Australia and New Zealand, we have partnerships with labs in both the US and Australia to facilitate shipping.
Is liability insurance available?
Yes.
We provide recommendations for liability insurance that's available worldwide.
I already have an established practice. Can I add functional labs?
Absolutely!
Many people who take the FDN course already have established wellness practices as massage therapists, chiropractors, personal trainers, yoga instructors, or health coaches. The FDN Course teaches you everything you need to know, and you'll have exclusive access to order tests for your clients upon graduation.
This is often the missing piece that transforms a struggling practice into a thriving one. You'll be able to offer premium packages ($2,000-$3,000+ for 90-day programs) because you're providing insights and results other practitioners simply can't.
Will I really optimize my own health during the program?
That's the plan, and students consistently tell us they're amazed by their own results.
We include the cost of functional test kits in your tuition and provide two one-on-one sessions to review your results. You're not just learning theory. You're experiencing the transformation firsthand.
This serves multiple purposes:
You gain invaluable firsthand experience with the methodology
You build confidence from seeing real results in your own body
You truly "walk the talk" with clients
You have powerful personal stories to share
Many students tell us this alone is worth the price of admission.
Value and Investment
Will I really optimize my own health during the program?
Many FDN Practitioners earn the equivalent of $200+/hour by selling high-ticket transformational wellness programs.
The typical FDN client package is $4,000-$6,000 for a 90-day program, which includes:
Comprehensive intake and assessment
Five functional lab tests
Lab results review sessions
Personalized D.R.E.S.S. protocols
Ongoing support and follow-ups
With just 4 new clients per month, practitioners can build six-figure practices. The referral-based model means once you establish yourself, your practice fills organically through word-of-mouth.
We cover how to structure your packages in the FDN Course, and you can join our graduate program for additional business development support.